Ear Cropping. Yes or No?

[rannmiller]

I definitely think that cropping ears is mean and sad for the poor pup, especially when I see them walking around with tape and tongue depressors or tampons on their ears.

And as previously stated, I don't get how it can be a "breed standard" but it isn't how the breed is even born! I mean, you have to chop part of their ear off and it still isn't guaranteed to stand up! Plus, they are born with floppy ears for a reason, because they don't have any protection from wind and debris without them!

However, unfortunately I have to admit that I love how dobermans look with a well done crop job. I could never bring myself to do it to a puppy, but if I happened to adopt one with a nice crop job, I wouldn't hold it against them.

All other breeds look pretty silly with crops though, IMO.

[rannmiller]

PS - jdatwood, thank you for posting all the pics of Akasha, I love her coloring, she's so stinkin' cute I can't stand it!

[jdatwood]

Thanks! I love sharing the gospel of Akasha

[rannmiller]

I found this great article on ear cropping and tail docking on dogs. Watch the video for tail docking, it is heartbreaking!

Plastic Surgery For Dogs: Dog Ear Crop and Tail Dock

[jdatwood]

That's horrible... I can't even imagine what the poor 2 day old puppy is going thru there

[CCSE]

I know its a little too late to post a reply, but I just found this thread and had to do it!
Personally I'm not a big fan of ear or tail cropping/docking. Imagine someone doing it to me!
Having a miniature schnauzer, i thought they were born with short tails, until i did my research. It must really hurt for them, I cant imagine how much agony they must have had gone thru.
When I received my puppy, I realised one side of her ear was intact, while the other side was partially cropped, just a little bit. It's weird, but I have no idea why either. Her tail was docked though, and I admit it looks cute, but when I look closely at her skin, it looks like a scar. Sometimes I cant even tell if she's wagging her tail! Plus I wont be able to watch her chase it :( I've never seen schnauzers with full tails before, but i still ♥ my dog!

[Jem]

I personally love the look of any breed with cropped ears (the ones meant for it). I am not saying I would do it for my dog...but I think it does make them look really good. I am more concerned about the after care...4 months or however long of keeping them taped, and there is a great possibility that they won't end up sticking up perfectly. I mean people remove dewclaws on pups...I know its for different reasons, but still painful. In the grand scheme of things, yes it may be painful but the dog isn't going to remember it long term. Like someone else said...if you crop, who cares, if you don't, who cares. Call me mean or inhumane, but I still love dogs to death, and don't hold it against people that do it.

[Jem]

and if you really want to get into it, it could be considered just as "inhumane" to continue breeding breeds such as the boxer, bulldog, dachshund, etc. because they are basically mutation bred after mutation. That is not how nature intended for a dog to be, but people are going to continue breeding dogs like this, just as they are going to continue cropping/docking. Not saying I look down upon this either, just kinda the same "mutilation"....

[luvMyBRT]

I can see both sides of the debate. I too like the way some dogs with cropped ears look, but I would never do it to one of my dogs. For the most part I feel it is for the benefit of the owner and not the dog.

Here is Lucky, my GSH Pointer, and her long beautiful tail!

[DaneMama]

I know its a little too late to post a reply, but I just found this thread and had to do it!
Personally I'm not a big fan of ear or tail cropping/docking. Imagine someone doing it to me!
Having a miniature schnauzer, i thought they were born with short tails, until i did my research. It must really hurt for them, I cant imagine how much agony they must have had gone thru.
When I received my puppy, I realised one side of her ear was intact, while the other side was partially cropped, just a little bit. It's weird, but I have no idea why either. Her tail was docked though, and I admit it looks cute, but when I look closely at her skin, it looks like a scar. Sometimes I cant even tell if she's wagging her tail! Plus I wont be able to watch her chase it :( I've never seen schnauzers with full tails before, but i still ♥ my dog!

Just to give you some peace of mind, tail docking usually/should be done around 2-3 days of age. Since puppy bones at that time are still very soft and their tails are pretty tiny the wound is small. Only takes one or two sutures to close it which come out a week or so later. That is really the extent of tail docking and is far less painful or involved when compared to ear cropping.